Despite the emphatic nature of the victory and the Rams blistering early season form, Rams head coach,Seb Reynolds, did not make the mistake of underestimating Bury prior to the game, as he said, “We knew in the week leading up to this that it was going to be a tough game, Bury have played some impressive rugby at the start of this season and have been looking a real threat so we had to be on form today, and I’m happy with the way we responded to last week’s loss”
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Reynolds also took time to praise his sides defensive resilience saying, “We weren’t as ruthless as I would’ve hoped at times, but some of our play was outstanding, especially on the defensive front so credit must go to Danny Batty, our defence coach.”

After a cagey start to the first half, Bury drew first blood, driving forward having won a penalty line out in the Rams 22. But unable to budge a rugged Rams pack, they resorted to their excellent backs to find an opening, whipping the ball down the line with Stanley eventually scoring in the corner.

With the Rams struggling to gain a foothold in the game, a much needed lucky break came their way with Andy Humberstone blocking a clearing kick and pouncing on the ball over the try line to register the Rams first points on the board of the afternoon.

Both sides then traded tries, the first of which came from Rams full back Joe Duffelen having been released by a quick passing combo from wing Andrew Denham and the vision of scrum half Miles Lloyd.

This was answered as Duffelen dropped a Bury clearing kick and the away side took advantage, storming forward and outnumbering the Rams defence with Stanley eventually taking the ball over the line in the corner for his second of the game.

With the game in the balance, it was the home team that went into the break with an advantage. In typical Rams fashion hooker Ben Henderson scored his fifth touch down of the season after his forwards drove a penalty line out to the Bury line to bring the interval score to 19-14.

Once again the second half began quietly with no chances of note in the opening 5 minutes until the Rams won a penalty line out and having whipped he ball wide, fly half Alex Seers magicked a clever kick with pin point accuracy to Jak Rossiter, who demonstrated his athleticism by leaping into the air and taking the ball over the line under pressure from his opposite number.

As Rams were beginning to open up a commanding lead the men from Bury had their woes further added to as they lost men to injuries and yellow cards.

Following a lengthy injury delay, the Reading men capitalised, immediately driving to the line from a five-yard scrum to be awarded a penalty try.

Over the next ten minutes Rams were relentless in their attacks as they scored two more tries, the pick of which came in the 70th minute as the boys in blue began to open up, demonstrating the skills that have served them well so far this season. They burst forward going through the phases at a blistering tempo with Jak Rossiter cutting in from the wing and weaving past a number of tackles to finish off an excellent move, Seers adding the extras.

Finding a second wind, Bury replied in the final few minutes with some breathtaking running rugby and pushed for a bonus point try in the dying seconds, but it was not to be as Rams remained defensively organised to secure a turnover just before the final whistle blew to secure a 47-21 victory.
This Saturday Rams 1st XV and the 2nd XV (Titans) travel to newly promoted Barnes for what promises to be an enthralling encounter.